Topsail Island Surf Forecast, North Carolina
North Carolina
Current Conditions
PoorWave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
6.7s
Wind
11mph
S / Gusts 19mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Wind Swell
3.0ft @ 7sSSE
Nearest Webcam
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 312-3ft
Poor - FairPretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with light winds out of the S.
6am9am12pm3pm
7s SE|4mph S
Wed, Apr 12-3ft
PoorSlim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light SSW winds.
6am9am12pm3pm
9s SE|6-10mph SW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
PoorSlim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light S winds.
6am9am12pm3pm
7s SE|4-6mph SSE
Forecast Charts
Topsail Island Surf Spot Guide
Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SE
Best Wind
NW
Season
Fall
Topsail Island is a 26-mile barrier island with laid-back, uncrowded beach breaks that fire on SE swells. The long stretch of shifting sandbars means you can always find a peak breaking somewhere along the island. Intermediate to advanced when waves are up, though North Topsail Beach offers beginner-friendly conditions on smaller days. The island has a WWII missile testing history and a sea turtle hospital.
Strong currentsOccasional rip currentsTourist crowds in summer
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Topsail Island Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Topsail Island?
The current wave height at Topsail Island is 1-2ft with a 6.7s swell period. Wind is S at 11mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Topsail Island surf forecast?
Our Topsail Island forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends.
What is the breaking wave height at Topsail Island?
The current breaking wave height at Topsail Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 3ft SSE wind swell swell at 7s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
When is the best time to surf Topsail Island?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Topsail Island is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.